Golf ball tracking system

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a golf ball tracking system that includes a golf ball, a GPS chip that is embedded within the golf ball and a hand-held tracker that includes a front, a casing, a transmitter, a LCD display and a beeper, the transmitter is encased within the casing and the LCD display is disposed on the front of the hand-held tracker and the transmitter is in communication with the GPS chip embedded within the golf ball through a GPS system. The golf ball tracking system includes one or more batteries encased within the casing, the one or more batteries provide electrical power to the golf ball tracking system and a packaging that contains one or more of the golf balls.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

Currently there are limited options for a compact tracking system that can monitor the location of a sporting ball such as a golf ball. Golfers can lose their golf ball after a poor swing or mishit due to a relatively large green playing field, often having to forego searching for their lost golf ball and constantly replace their golf balls.

The present invention generally relates to a tracking system. More specifically, the invention is a golf ball tracking system.

It is an object of the invention to provide a golf ball tracking system that expedites a search for a lost golf ball.

It is an object of the invention to provide a golf ball tracking system that provides a golf ball that is in sync with a hand held tracker with a global positioning system or GPS.

It is an object of the invention to provide a golf ball tracking system that will reduce the cost of a golfer to replace lost golf balls.

What is really needed is a golf ball tracking system that expedites a search for a lost golf ball that provides a golf ball that is in sync with a hand-held tracker with a global positioning system or GPS that will reduce the cost of a golfer to replace lost golf balls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a golf ball tracking system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates an electrical diagram of a golf ball tracking system with a printed circuit board, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates an electrical diagram of a golf ball tracking system with a plurality of wires, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is utilized repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a golf ball tracking system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The golf ball tracking system 100 includes a golf ball 110, a GPS chip 120, a hand-held tracker 130, one or more batteries 140 and a packaging 150. The golf ball 110 can be any suitable traditional golf ball that can be struck by a golfer with one of a plurality of golf clubs 112 while playing a golf game. The GPS chip 120 is embedded within the golf ball 110. The hand-held tracker 130 includes a front 131, a casing 132, a transmitter 134, a liquid crystal diode or a LCD display 136, a keypad 133 and a beeper 138. The transmitter 134 is encased within the casing 132 and the LCD display 136 is disposed on the front 131 of the hand-held tracker 130. The transmitter 134 is in communication with the GPS chip 120 embedded within the golf ball 110 through a GPS system 135. The transmitter 134 is in communication with the beeper 138 which emits a beeping sound relatively faster as the hand-held tracker 130 gets closer to the golf ball 110. The one or more batteries 140 are encased within the casing 132 and provide electrical power to the golf ball tracking system 100. The one or more batteries 140 can be one or more alkaline batteries 142, one or more lithium batteries 144 or any other suitable number and type of batteries. The packaging 150 contains one or more golf balls 110 that can be for the 12 golf ball packaging 137, the 3 golf ball packaging 139, a 1 golf ball packaging 139′ or any other suitable number and type of golf ball packaging. The packaging 150 also includes a quick release or QR code 156 that can be downloaded to an IPHONE™, an ANDROID™ or other suitable SMARTPHONE™ programmable cell phone 158′ with a QR code reader 158 and will work off of rural free delivery or RFD wireless phone lines 159. The packaging 150 has a serial number 157 to be entered into the hand-held tracker 130 with a keypad 133 disposed on the front 131 of the hand-held tracker 130 to sync the transmitter 134 and the GPS chip 120.

FIG. 2A illustrates an electrical diagram of a golf ball tracking system 200 with a printed circuit board, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The golf ball tracking system 200 illustrated and described in FIG. 2A is similar to the golf ball tracking system 100 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A also includes a hand-held tracker 210, one or more batteries 220, a transmitter 230, a LCD display 240, a keypad 245 and a beeper 250 that is similar to the hand-held tracker 130, the one or more batteries 140, transmitter 134, LCD display 136, keypad 133 and beeper 138 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A also more specifically includes one or more alkaline batteries 222 and one or more lithium batteries 224 as being the one or more batteries 220 that are similar to the one or more alkaline batteries 142 and one or more lithium batteries 144 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. The one or more batteries 220 provide electrical power to the transmitter 230, the LCD display 240, the keypad 245 and the beeper 250 encased in or disposed on the hand-held tracker 210. The one or more batteries 220 are in electrical communication with the transmitter 230, the LCD display 240, the keypad 245 and the beeper 250 encased in or disposed on the hand-held tracker 210 with a printed circuit board 260.

FIG. 2B illustrates an electrical diagram of a golf ball tracking system 200 with a plurality of wires, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The golf ball tracking system 200 illustrated and described in FIG. 2B is similar to the golf ball tracking system 100 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. FIG. 2B also includes a hand-held tracker 210, one or more batteries 220, a transmitter 230, a LCD display 240, a keypad 245 and a beeper 250 that is similar to the hand-held tracker 130, the one or more batteries 140, transmitter 134, LCD display 136, keypad 133 and beeper 138 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. FIG. 2B also more specifically includes one or more alkaline batteries 222 and one or more lithium batteries 224 as being the one or more batteries 220 that are similar to the one or more alkaline batteries 142 and one or more lithium batteries 144 illustrated and described in FIG. 1. The one or more batteries 220 provide electrical power to the transmitter 230, the LCD display 240, the keypad 245 and the beeper 250 encased in or disposed on the hand-held tracker 210. The one or more batteries 220 are in electrical communication with the transmitter 230, the LCD display 240, the keypad 245 and the beeper 250 encased in or disposed on the hand-held tracker 210 with a plurality of electrical wires 270.

The golf ball tracking system is a practical GPS device that provides a golfer with an effective medium for locating a lost golf ball. Powered by one or more batteries, the golf ball tracking system includes a hand-held tracker, the approximate size of a key fob, and an embedded GPS chip within the golf ball as part of the golf ball tracking system. In the event that a golf ball becomes lost, a user simply utilizes the hand-held tracker to quickly sync and identify the exact location of a lost golf ball. The golf ball tracking system may be readily available at sporting goods retailers.

The golf ball tracking system employs the benefit of relatively modern technology as a relatively effective way to alleviate the common occurrence of losing a golf ball in or outside of a fairway. The golf ball tracking system features an adaptation to better enjoy a game of golf.

The center of the golf ball will house a GPS tracking device. The GPS tracking device is in communication with a handheld transmitter that will come with the purchase of a 12 pack, a 3 pack or a 1 pack of golf balls. The handheld transmitter will emit a beeping sound relatively faster the closer the handheld transmitter gets to the golf ball. The GPS tracking device will also feed information to a second more detailed transmitter that will be sold separately. The handheld transmitter will have a liquid crystal diode or a LCD screen and will alert the golfer how far away the golf ball is and in what direction and location the golf ball is. The packaging of the golf balls will have a serial number to be entered into the handheld transmitter to sync the handheld transmitter and the GPS tracking device. The packaging will also have a QR code to upload onto an I-PHONE™, an ANDROID™ type phone and other suitable SMARTPHONE™ and will work off of one or more rural free delivery or RFD wireless phone lines.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention. 

1. A golf ball tracking system, comprising: at least one golf ball; a GPS chip that is embedded within each of said at least one golf balls; a hand-held tracker that includes a casing having a transmitter associated with the GPS chip and a beeper, wherein the transmitter is configured to (1) communicate with the GPS chip through a GPS system, enabling the transmitter to determine the proximity of the GPS chip to the transmitter, and (2) cause the beeper to emit a beeping sound at a relatively faster interval as the transmitter becomes closer in proximity to the GPS chip; and one or more batteries encased within the casing, the one or more batteries provide electrical power to the golf ball tracking system. 2.-9. (canceled)
 10. The golf ball tracking system according to claim 1, additionally comprising a QR code associated with the GPS chip, wherein said QR code includes embedded information which enables the GPS chip to be associated with a programmable cell phone.
 11. The golf ball tracking system according to claim 10, wherein: a plurality of golf balls are provided; and said QR code includes embedded information which enables each of the GPS chips in the plurality of golf balls to be associated with the programmable cell phone.
 12. The golf ball tracking system according to claim 11, additionally comprising a serial number associated with the GPS chips, wherein said serial number enables each of the GPS chips in the plurality of golf balls to be associated with the handheld tracker. 13.-20. (canceled) 